Lubricating apparatus for internalcombustion engines and the like



June 3, 1952 G. M. KRUG LUBRICATING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 24, 1949 INVENTOR. 0 M BY Ge rye Krag W 7 ,24? ATTORNEYS June 3, 1952 G. M. KRUG 2,598,801

LUBRICATING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 s & N i

1N VEN TOR.

1 BY George Mhr'uy 9m WM l4 TTORNEYS June 3, 1952 G. M. KRUG 2,598,801

LUBRICATING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet s 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY GeoryeA/I. [fray June 1952 G. M. KRUG LUBRICATING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 24, 1949 Patented June 3, 1952 LUBRICATI APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL- COMBUSTION ENGINES AND' THE LIKE George Krug, Canton, Ohio, assignor toHercules Motors; Corporation, Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application fi'ec'ember' 24, 1949, Serial No. new

(01. IMF-6) 15 Claims.

The invention or discovery relates to lubrication apparatus for internal combustion engines and the like, and more particularly for'internal' combustion engines which are adapted for unattended operation over relatively long periodsof time, which may be aslong as six months. For such unattended operation of an internal combustion engine, it is a requirement that the lubrication apparatus for the engine be capable of functioning properly not only for the-desiredperiod but also in such manner as to maintain the temperature of the lubricant, usually oil,-he16w a definite maximum such as in the neighborhood of 170 F.

Prior to the present improvements efforts made to produce internal combustion engines adapted for unattended operation for a-peribd of as long as six months have-n'ot been successful to the desired extent, and in particular great difficulty has been encountered in providing suitable lubrication apparatus for such an engine.

The objects of the present inventihhor discovery include the provision of iinpro've'd lubrica tion apparatus particularly adapted for use in an internal combustion enginewhich i's adapte'dfor unattended operation for a period of as' l'o'ng as six months and for operation in which the temperature of the lubricant is maintained below a definite maximum such a's-in the'neiehborhood of 170 F.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the lubrication apparatus and duplex-pump unit therefor, parts, combinations, and sub combinations which comprise the present-invention or discovery, and the nature-ofwhich-is set forth in the following general statement, and preferred embodiments of which together with their mode of use are set forth in the following descriptien, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in theappended claims term: ing part hereof.

The nature of thepresent invention or discovery may be stated in general terms as including in an internal combustion engine and" the like in--' cluding one or moreshafts each" rotatablein a bearing and constituting parts requiring lubri cation, lubrication apparatus for the" parts in'--' cluding Walls forming a sump chamber below the parts, Walls forming an auxiliary "lubricant supply chamber outside ofthe sump chamber and preferably surrounding" the sump chamber. Ihe sump chamber isadapted for containing, the main fluid lubricant supp1y,usua11y oilforthe parts, and theauxiliary lubricaht supply chain'- oer is adapted for containingan auxiliaryfiuid 2. 1ubricant'su 1y; and thereis provided. in association' with the walls of the two chambers; an overflow communicating duet or passageway be-' tween the sump chamber and the auxiliary'lubricant supply chamber.

Within the sump: chamber there is located a main: lubricant: pump, and an auxiliary lubricant" pump: Walls form air auxiliary lubricant transfer chamber and: a thermostat chamber having a common wall between each other and the common wall having a valve seat opening formed therein, and a valve isarr'anged for openingand closing the valve seat opening; A thermostat located in' the" thermostat chamber is arranged to open and close the valve at and below a: particular temperature of the media surrounding the'therinostat; The suction line for the main pump" pa's's'e's' through the thermostat chamber, and the discharge line for the main pump communicates: with the parts) requiring lubrication. The suction line for the auxiliary pump delivers fluid 0 1" flowabieluhricant from the auxiliary 11ibrica'nt supply chamber to the auxiliary pump; and the discharge line" for the auxiliary pump communicates from-- the auxiliary pum through the auxiliary lubricant" transfer chamber and over the valve and to the auxiliary lubricant supplychamber. 1

Preferably, the maih and auxiliary pumps and the walls forming the='therniostat chamber and the auxiliary liib'rio'a'nt transfer ch a'rnberare as sociated with each other and with other parts as a. duplex pump unit which'is detachable from the, engineer similar aippar-atus'equipped there- Wi h;

By: way of example} embodiments; of the im-' proved lubrication" apparatus and the" improved duplex pump unit" thereofof the present inventioii or discovery, and parts thereof are illustrated in theaccompanyingdrawings forming part hereof in*which:' I

Figure 1 i'san end'elevational' viewdf aninternal combustion engine including the improved lubricationapparatus; I

, aside'leleyational'view, with portions broken away-'andshown' in sectionof oneof the improved duplex" pump units" for the improved lubrication apparatus, the pump unit being shown detached from the engine;-

, Fig; 3*is a fragmentary reducedtraiisve'rse.sectional- View of the impreved 'pump 'unit as on line 3 -3; Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is another" fragmentary reducedtransverse sectional view of the improved pump unit ason line 1-4, Fig". 2";

Fig. is a fragmentary reduced vertical sectional view of the improved pum unit as on line 5-5, Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the engine, looking in the direction of arrows 33, Fig. 1, parts being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional View thereof as on line 1-1, Fig. 6, lower portions being broken away and shown in transverse section as on line lar'|a, Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is an oblique sectional view thereof as on line 88, Fig. 7.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

cast metal usual in internal combustion engine construction, such as aluminum alloy or cast iron. The upper end of the intermediate casing M has outturned side and end flanges I5 connected in a usual manner by cap screws I3 with.

outturned side and end flanges I! on the lower end of the cylinder block I2. The parting plane of the flanges I5 and I1 is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the engine cylinders, and is usually horizontal in use.

The casing I3 furthermore includes upper outturned sid and end flanges I8 connected with an outturned side flange I9 and inturned side and end flanges on the lower end of the casing I4, by usual stud and bolt means 2 I, and the parting plane between the flanges I8 and the flanges I9 and 20 is oblique with respect to the parting plane between the flanges l5 and the flanges H.

The casing I3 furthermore includes an outer bottom wall 22, opposite outer side walls 23 and 24, opposite outer end walls 25 and 23, and an outer top wall 21 forming an enlarged chamber 28 which has a transversely rectangular cross section as shown in Fig. '7. Within the enlarged chamber 28, the casing I3 also includes an inner bottom wall 29, inner side walls 33 and 3|, and inner end walls 32 and 33 forming a center sump chamber 34. The inner bottom wall 29 is spaced above the outer bottom wall 22, and the inner side walls 30 and 3| are spaced respectively a substantial distance laterally from the outer side walls 23 and 24, and the inner end walls 32 and 33 are spaced respectively a substantial distance laterally from the outer end walls 25 and 26. The inner side walls 30 and 3 I, and the outer end walls 25 and 26 extend upwardly above the outer top wall 2'! and terminate in the flanges I8.

The casing I3 furthermore includes a plurality of overflow duct walls respectively indicated by 35a, 35b, and 350 and respectively forming overflow ducts 36a, 36b, and 330 communicating respectively between upper overflow openings 31a, 31b, and 310 formed in the inner side wall 3| and lower overflow openings 33a, 38b, and 330 formed in the top wall 27.

The inner side wall 30 of the casing above.

the top wall 21 is formed with a pair of bosses respectively indicated by 39a and 39b and having bores 43a and 40b communicating at their upper ends through the flange I8 and at their lower ends into the chamber 28. The casing I4 includes a side wall 3| above the inner side wall 33 0f the casing II, and the intermediate casing side wall 4| is.formed with a pair of bosses respectively indicated by 42a and 42b, and having respectively elbow ducts 43a and 431) formed therein. The lower openings of the elbow ducts 43a and 33b register respectively with the upper ends of the bores 40a. and 30b.

Casing I3 furthermore includes tubular walls 34 forming a drain tube 45 for the center sump chamber 34. The outer end of the drain tube 45 terminates in the outer end wall 25 in an internally threaded opening 35 in which is screwed a drain plug 4?. The inner end of the drain tube 45 communicatingly connects with an opening formed in the lower border portion of the inner end wall 32 below the inner bottom wall 29, and the inner bottom wall 29 terminates within the chamber 34 at an end 29-| spaced from the end wall 33, whereby communication is effected between the sump chamber 34, below the bottom wall 29 and above the bottom Wall 22 with the drain tube 45, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7. There is furthermore provided in the outer end wall 25 an internally threaded drain opening 48 in which is screwed a drain plug 49, the drain opening 48 being for the chamber 23.

The inner side walls 30 and 3| of the casing i3 are provided respectively on their inner faces with flanges 59 and 5| extending transversely towards each other and longitudinally of the side walls 30 and 3|. An oil sludge filter indicated generally by 52 is located and supported in the lower end of the sump chamber 34, and as shown includes a top plate 53 separably secured on the top faces of the flanges and 5| by cap screws 54. Side, end, and bottom walls formed of fine screening 55 have the upper edges of the side and end walls secured to the lower face of the top plate 53. The top plate 53 has formed therein adjacent the side wall 30 an opening 56 for a purpose hereinafter described in detail.

In the bores of the bosses 39a and 392) there are located respectively the upper end portions of tubes 57a and 511) whose 'upper extremities are externally threaded and screwed respectively in the internally threaded lower openings of the elbows 43a and 43b of the registering bosses 42a and 42b. The lower end of each tube 51a and 52b is located adjacent the inner face of the outer bottom wall 22 of the casing I3. Adjacent the side wall 24 of the casing I3 there is provided on the upper face of the top wall 2'! a boss 58 having a bore in which is fitted a sleeve 59 through which extends an oil level gauge stick 60 having an upper end handle 6|.

The cylinder block |2 includes a lower crank case portion 62, the lower opening of which communicates with the upper opening of the intermediate casing I4, and the lower opening of the intermediate casing I 4 communicates with the upper opening of the lower casing I3. 7

The improved lubrication apparatus of the .present invention or discovery furthermore inthrough the compartment: 65 oi the intermediate casing I-4 and into-thesumpchamber 34 The improved duplex pump unit 63 isillus* trated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8; in its installed position in the internal combustion engine I 92 In Figs. 2' to- 5,- inclusive, the improved duplexpump unit 63 is illustrated detached from the engine II with portions shownbroken away a'nd in various sections for clearly illustrating the details ofconstruction.

The improved duplex pump-unit 53 includes an upper main pump housing 66; anintermediate auxiliary pump housing 61' and a) lower main pump suction housing 68. The upper housing- 66" is connected at its lower end 69- withth'e upper end 1-9 ofthe intermediate housing 61 as by stud and nut means TI. The lower: end 12- of the intermediatehousing 61- is connected with the upper end of the lower housi ng 68 as by stud and nut means 73; The upper housing 66- is formed with a bearing bore- M and the intermediate housing 61 is for-med with a bearing bore 15, and the bearing" bores w and I5 are coaxial with each other and a duplex pump shaft I6 is journalled therein; The upper end i of the shaft IS extends above the upper-- end of the upper housing 66, and a pinion IE is secured thereon. Intermediate the endsof the upper housing I55 there is located an outwardly extending flange I9- having formed therein opposite apertures 8b, and in the engine- I9; the shanks of cap screws-8i extend through-theapertures 90 and therebythe duplex pump unit 63 is secured to the lower end of the crank c'ase portion 62 ofthecylinder block F25 the pinion It being meshed with a gear on the camshaft of the engine It in theusual manner, not shown.

In the lower end-of the upper housing 66 there is formed a main pump chamber 8 2 Adjacent the shaft 16 in the chamber 82 there is located a stub shaft 83 which 'is journalled in the housing 65; A- spur gear 84-is securedonthe shaft I6 in the chamber 82 and a spur gear-185 is secured on'theshaft 83- in the chamber 82-; and the gears 85 and 85-aremeshed with-eachother; and there is thus formed a main gear pump by the gears 8 1 and 85 and associated partss In the lower endof" theintermediate housing 61 there isformed a combined auxiliary pump and auxiliary lubricanttransfer chamber 86; The'lower end 81- of the'shaft ltextends into the chamber 86 and has secured thereon a gear 98% At one side of the shaft 1.6in: the chamber 86, a stub shaft 89 is located-andisjournalledin the housing 67, and a gear 90 is secured on' the shaft 89 and meshed with the-g'ea'r88; and there is thus formed an auxiliary gear pump by the gears 83 and 90 andassociated parts:

The lower housing 68= includes wallsforming a thermostat chamber 9I- from thelower end of which extends a suction intake tube 92- for the main gear pumpa The-wall's-of thechamber 9| include a top wall- 93 having formedtherein at one side an outlet opening 94; Fig; 5 The intermediate housing 61 has formed therein an offset duct 9 5 having alowerend communicating with the outlet opening- 94 f the housing 68. The upper end of the duct 95 communicates with the main pump: chamber 82-;

In the engine III, the suctionintake tube" 92- extends through the'opening 56 in=the -top-pl'at'e 5310f the oil slud'gefilter 52.

The walls at the lowerend 69 of the upper housing 66 forming the main pump-chamberBZ are. provided. with a cylind'rical discharge neck 6 96 with which is connected: one endiof: a. tube 951:; the other end of which is connectedin a usual manner with ducts (not shown) in: the crank case portion 62 of'the cylinder block II2 communicating with the engine bearings. As usual in an internal combustion engine. the oil delivered to the engine bearings, after lubricating the same, drops down into the sump chamber 34.

The upper wall 93- of the lower housing 6-8 of the pump 63 has formed thereinanopening 98 and a thermostat indicatedgenerally by 99 includes amounting flange I99 which is secured to the upper f-aceof the wall 93. The thermostat 99' includes a U bracket Iii-I extending from the mounting fiange- I 00l through the opening 98 in the wall 93 intothe thermostat chamber-9F of the lower housing; 68. The thermostat 99 as shown is of a usual bellows type, and includes a bellows I02 supported on the bracket IM- in the thermostat chamber 91 the bellows I62 being filledwith airor-other suitable gas. The lower end ofthebellows I 92 seats on the lower end bar I03 of the bracket I91, and from theupper end of the bellows I92 there extends a valveactuating tube I04. The mounting flange I09 isformed with a valve seat neck opening I05,- and a cup valve I06 is secured on the upper endof the tube Hi4; andthe-peripheral flange IN of the cup valve N16 is seated in the seat I05" under ordinary operating conditions. Thecup'val've I96 is areciprocating valve actuated by thethermostat 99; For providin asafety factor in the operation of the improved lubrication apparatus, the disc portion- I99 of the cup valve ")6 has formedthereirr anoil bleed aperture IN);

The walls of the-intermediate housing 61' have formed therein a suction opening III and adischarge opening" H2. The openings- I l I- and H2 communicatewith the chamber 86: The suction opening- III has connected therewith one-end of a suction tube I-I3, the'otherendofwhichis connected with the upper endof thenearest elbow duct 43a in the nearest boss 4211-.

The discharge opening I-Ii! is connected with one end of a discharge tube I'l-"4-', the'othe'r' end of whichi's connected with the upper'end of the elbow duct 43b nearest end wall 2-6 of the-casing I3.

In the operation of the internal combustion engine I 9 includingthe improved lubricationapparatus hereof, the center sump chamber 3 1- is filledwith lubricating oil' to a level adjacent the overflow openings- 31a, 37b, and3 Ic, and the surrounding chamber 28 is filled with lubricating oil to a level adjacent the top wall-21. The thermostat 99 is constructed and adjusted so that the valve I96 will start to open when: the temperatureof=thesurrounding media is -in-thewneighborhood of F; and will befullyopen' when the temperature is in theneighborhood of 205 F; Under usual operating: conditions the main oil supply' passes up from the sump chamber 3t through the suction intake tube: 92 of the lower thermostat casing 68 of the duplex pump unit. 63 passing around the thermostat 99 and: thence through the main pump chamber 82 andzto the bearings of theengine;

Meanwhile, oil flows up from the outer auxiliary lubricant supply chamber 28 through the tube 57a nearest the pump 63; which constitutes an outer end of the suction tube or line for the auxiliary pump formed bythegears 8'8 and' 39 and theirhousing, and thisoilunder usual'operating conditionsof the engine m pass'es through the-auxiliary pump and lubricant-transfer chamber 86 and out through the discharge tube H4 and the furthermost tube 51b constituting a discharge tube or line for the auxiliary pump. Thus, under usual operating conditions Without the lubricating oil being overheated, the auxiliary oil supply in the compartment 28 is circulated from the compartment 28 through the auxiliary pump and back to the compartment 28.

When, however, the lubricating oil reaches a temperature of in the neighborhood of 170 F. due to usual operating conditions such as consumption of a portion of the main supply of 111-; bricating oil in the center sump chamber 34, the valve 196 opens and the auxiliary oil is by-passed from the auxiliary pump and lubricant transfer chamber 86 into the thermostat chamber 9| where it is added to themain oil supply. The auxiliary oil thus added to the main oil supply fills the sump chamber 34 up to the overflow openings 31a, 37b and 310 from which the combined oil flows back into the outer chamber 28. When the temperature of the oil passing through the thermostat chamber 9| becomes lower than in the neighborhood of 170 F., the thermostat valve I06 closes and the usual operation of the engineis resumed.

In the severalviews Figs. 2 to 8, inclusive, the arrows indicate the direction of lubricant flow under ordinary operating conditions before the thermostat valve 106 opens.

Itis to be noted that While lubricating oil is the usual lubricant used in internal combustion engines, any liquid or fiowable lubricant such as a mixture of lubricating oil andother liquid or flowable material such as powdered graphite may ing, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed, j

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Havin now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the 'ad-. vantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In lubrication apparatus for parts requiring lubrication in an internal combustion engine and the like, Walls forming a sump chamber for a mainflowable lubricant supply, walls forming an auxiliary lubricant supply chamber outside of the sump chamber for an auxiliary flowable lubricant supply, one of the sump chamber walls having formed therein an overflow opening effecting a communication between the sump chamber and the auxiliary lubricantsupply chamber, a main lubricant pump and an auxiliary lubricant pump in the sump, chamber, walls forming an auxiliary lubricant transfer chamber and a thermostat chamber adjacent each other in the sump chamber, one of the walls of the auxiliary lubricant transfer chamber having formed therein a valve seat opening communicating with the thermostat chamber, a valve movable between closing and opening positions with respect to the valve seat opening, a thermostat located in the thermostat chamber and operatively connected with the valve for opening and closing the valve above and below a particular temperature of the mediasurrounding the thermostat, a suction line for the main pump communicating between the sump chamber through the thermostat chamber and to the main pump and a discharge line for the main pump communicating from the main pump to the parts requiring lubrication and thence to the sump chamber, a suction line for the auxiliary pump communicating from the auxiliary lubricant supply chamber to the auxiliary pump, and a discharge line for the auxiliary pump communicating from the auxiliary pump through the auxiliary lubricant transfer chamber and over the valve and to the auxiliary lubricant supply chamber.

2. In lubrication apparatus for parts requiring lubrication in an internal combustion engine and the like as set forth in claim 1, and in which the sump chamber is located below and in communication with the parts requiring lubrication.

3. In lubrication apparatus for parts requiring lubrication in an internal combustion engine and the like as set forth in claim 1, and in which some of the walls forming the auxiliary lubricant supply chamber are spaced from and extend around some of the walls forming the sump chamber and whereby the auxiliary lubricant supply chamber surrounds some of the walls of the sump chamber.

4. In lubrication apparatus for parts requiring lubrication in an internal combustion engine and the like as set forth in claim 1, and in which the wall of the auxiliary lubricant transfer chamber having the valve seat opening formed therein is a common wall of the lubricant transfer chamber and of the thermostat chamber.

5. In lubrication apparatus for parts requiring lubrication in an internal combustion engine and the like as set forth in claim 1, and in which the valve is a reciprocating valve.

6.'In lubrication apparatus for parts requiring lubrication in an internal combustion engine and the like as set forth in claim 1, and in which the main pump and the auxiliary pump have common drive means.

7. In lubrication apparatus for parts requiring lubrication in an internal combustion engine and the like as set forth in claim 1, and in which the sump chamber is located below and in communication with the parts requiring lubrication, and in which some of the walls forming the auxiliary lubricant supply chamber are spaced from and extend around some of the walls forming the sump chamber and whereby the auxiliary lubricant supply chamber surrounds some of the walls of the sump chamber.

8. In lubrication apparatus for parts requiring lubrication in an internal combustion engine and the like as set forth in claim 1, and in which the valve is a reciprocating valve, and in which the thermostat is a bellows thermostat.

9. In lubrication apparatus for parts requiring lubrication inan internal combustion engine and the like as set forth in claim 1, and in Which the main pump and the auxiliary pump have common drive means, and in which the common drive means for the main pump and the auxiliary pump includes a rotary shaft and the main pump and the auxiliary pump each being a gear pump including two gears meshed with each other and one of the gears being mounted on the common shaft.

10. In lubrication apparatus for parts requiring lubrication in an internal combustion engine and the like as set forth in claim 1, and in which the main lubricant pump and the auxiliary lubricant pump, and the walls forming the auxiliary lubricant transfer chamber and the thermostat chamber, and the valve and thermostat are associated. with each other and with common drive means for the pumps as a duplex pump unit separably mounted in the sump chamber.

11. In a duplex pump unit adapted for use in v lubrication apparatus for parts requiring lubrication in an internal combustion engine and the like, a first pump and a second pump, housing and mounting walls including walls forming a chamber for each of the first and second pumps,

common drive means for the first and second pumps operatively mounted in some of the housing and mounting walls, some of the housing and mounting walls forming a transfer chamber and a thermostat chamber adjacent each other, one of the walls of the transfer chamber having formed therein a valve seat opening communicating with the thermostat chamber, a valve movable between closing and opening positions with respect to the valve seat ell) of the transfer chamber and. walls of the second pump chamber an opening communicating between the second pump chamber and the transfer chamber and one of the walls of the second pump chamber being provided with an opening.

12. In a duplex pump unit adapted for use in lubrication apparatus for parts requiring lubrication in an internal combustion engine and the like as set forth in claim 11, and in which the wall of the transfer chamber having the valve seat opening formed therein is a common wall of the transfer chamber and of the thermostat chamber.

13. In a duplex pump unit adapted for use in lubrication apparatus for parts requiring lubrication in an internal combustion engine and the like as set forth in claim 11, and in which the common drive means for the first and second pumps includes a rotary shaft and the first and second pumps each being a gear pump including two gears meshed with each other and one of the gears being mounted on the common shaft, the gears of each pump being located in the chamber for the pump.

14. In a duplex pump unit adapted for use in lubrication apparatus for parts requiring lubrication in an internal combustion engine and the like as set forth in claim 11, and in which the valve is a reciprocating valve.

15. In a duplex pump unit adapted for use in lubrication apparatus for parts requiring lubrication in an internal combustion engine and the like as set forth in claim 11, and in which the valve is a reciprocating valve, and in which the thermostat is a bellows thermostat.

GEORGE M. KRUG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,891,726 Radford Dec. 20, 1932 1,903,412 Woolson Apr. 4, 1933 1,906,538 Church May 2, 1933 1,948,929 MacPherson Feb. 27, 1934 

